Welcome to B & M Bulletin, produced specifically for IT specialists. In this issue:
• Why references matter - Melanie Thompson explains
• Tech View - the importance of a proactive approach to network security
• Specialist profile - Senior capacity planning and performance specialist, Peter Kitchingman
• B & M staff member profile - HR Administrator Sara Waterman
• Work opportunities
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Why references are important
HR Manager Melanie Thompson explains why specialists should be prepared when it comes to providing references
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"…be prepared when it comes to references"
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As with most types of employment, job offers made in IT contracting are subject to satisfactory references. Our customers often require us to validate candidates before they will agree to interview them. Occasionally, time constraints mean that this is not always possible, in which case a customer may decide to postpone the interview until satisfactory information can be obtained. At B & M, we have occasionally had cases where an interview has been delayed while references were sought, and the assignment was - sadly - awarded to a different candidate as the customer felt that they were not able to wait.
Obviously, the main purpose of references is to verify the background of the specialist. The best referees are current and prior line managers as they are usually best placed to confirm details of duties and tasks undertaken. It is therefore a good idea for specialists to maintain contact with those people who can provide valid references and we recommend that you make sure that you have their most recent contact details to minimise potential delays in securing a role.
All references are taken discreetly by the B & M HR team and are used purely to confirm the specialist?s skills and experience. At B & M, we ensure that references are held in strictest confidence and we never use our contact with referees as an opportunity for selling. B & M always act with sensitivity when taking references, for example, where the referee is at a candidate's current place of work.
The benefit to you, the specialist, is that B & M can use the information to enhance its proposal to the customer in order differentiate you from candidates proposed by generalist employment businesses.
For the reasons mentioned above, B & M will be asking you for referees when proposing you for a job.
For more information about references contact people@bmeurope.com
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Tech View: Network Security and the mainframe
Paul Smith, Technical Manager at B & M introduces a series of articles on security in large systems with a look at some of the factors affecting security today
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Earlier this month, Microsoft suffered the embarrassment of having the front page of its French web site replaced with graffiti by Turkish hackers. This is just one case that shows that it is no longer just ?amateurs? who pose a risk to even the largest organisations. Instances of professional hackers and spammers are on the increase as the cases of ?Buffalo Spammer' Howard Carmack, and 'Botmaster' Jeanson James Ancheta have shown.
Before the advent of the Internet, of course, securing a network was much less of an issue than it is today. IBM networks were mostly VTAM based, with proprietary networks where any external hacking was most likely to occur through dial-up access rather than through a network. As TCP/IP is now pretty much integrated into z/OS this gives us all a problem.
TCP/IP was designed by the US military to survive massive damage to networks during conflicts; it has simplified the interconnection of differing platforms. Unfortunately its very flexibility has made it a prime target for hacking - and now anyone with an Internet connection can have high speed access to virtually anyone else anywhere in the world. A combination of costs, expediency, and the adoption in 1985 of TCP/IP means that today, security is much more of a hot potato.
Few companies these days have ?dumb? terminals to access their mainframe. The proliferation of desktop PCs, UNIX and Windows-based servers and mobile devices which use corporate networks mean that access to a company?s most sensitive data has potentially never been more open.
Securing your network and mainframe is therefore about far more than just having a decent firewall. In future issues of 'B & M Bulletin', we will look at how organisations can maintain a practical and proactive approach to network security - drawing on external expertise where necessary to support the security enterprise. We will also provide an overview of some of the securing hardware, software packages, and management techniques and strategies that are available to secure your enterprise.
For access to extensive experience in mainframe security, contact people@bmeurope.com
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Specialist profile
This month, we interview senior Capacity Planning and Performance Specialist, Peter Kitchingman
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After 33 years in IT, Peter Kitchingman is delighted to be working in London. Not only because he is enjoying his work at a major international bank but also because it means that he can spend more time riding his horse.
It was the freedom that first attracted Peter to contract work, Since 1997, he has had a number of contracts through B & M, working in IBM mainframe environments at major financial and retail organisations. As Peter explained, "I enjoy moving around and working on contract has meant that I have been able to stay on the technical side, whereas if I had stayed with one company, I would have had to move into management to progress, which wasn't something I wanted to do".
Peter has been on successive assignments with the same bank for over a year, initially involved in a project integrating the bank's systems following a succession of mergers but latterly in more general IT support roles covering for two members of staff who are on maternity leave. According to Peter, "The client was glad to have me back as I could just fit in and get on with it". Peter is aiming to broaden his skills further with future assignments, as well as ensuring that he uses his experience of managing z/OS systems from production to implementation.
In terms of his next assignment, Peter is hoping to be able to stay in south-east England so that he can improve his riding and dressage competition skills.
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Real Skills. Real People.
In this issue, we profile Human Resources Administrator Sara Waterman
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Sara joined B & M last month in a pivotal role providing administrative support to B & M's account management team. She completed her NVQ levels 2 and 3 in Secretarial Business Administration at Salisbury College with distinction in 1996, after which she worked on temporary assignments for Manpower Plc and Westaff UK Ltd. Sara undertook the roles of Administration Assistant and Branch Administrator where she screened candidates and managed the payroll for temporary staff. Sara later moved into a role at Capita Payroll Services where she was the Sales and Marketing Assistant, organising conferences, designing market literature and producing final tender bids.
In her few weeks at B & M, Sara has begun building relationships with B & M specialists and is learning about the processes associated with the IT contracting industry.
Sara is a keen sportswoman, regularly engaging in long distance running and often running for charity. Sara completed the Race for Life in 2005 and 2006, and also took part in a charity event to raise money for CLIC Sargent which involved a fun-run from Lands End in Cornwall to John O? Groats in Scotland. She also is a keen follower of football.
Sara has hidden talents in the kitchen and she particularly likes to create new vegetarian dishes.
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Current work opportunities
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B & M is currently seeking specialists with experience in AIX Administration in both the UK and Europe for short and long term contracts.
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B & M Europe Limited
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B & M has specialised in delivering skilled ICT specialists to meet the needs of leading organisations throughout Europe since 1992. We focus exclusively on providing technical services, consultancy and support for z/OS, UNIX and Linux enterprise systems, including third-party systems software, open systems and networking connectivity. We add real value for HR and IT professionals by taking the time to understand their needs and applying best practice methods to deliver results. To find out more about our approach to providing the best skills for each business, go to B & M Services. B & M Europe Limited
Whitehouse Farm, Silchester Road, Tadley, RG26 3PY, United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0) 118 981 1880
Fax +44 (0) 118 981 1881
Registered in England and Wales
Company No. 02696668
VAT No. GB 591718218 Expert Technical Resourcing for Enterprise Systems
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